SIUE is introducing two new concurrent Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs in fall 2022 to provide students with greater opportunities for learning and career advancement while saving time and money. 

The School of Pharmacy is the only school in Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan region to offer a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSPS). The new PharmD and MSPS concurrent degrees can be completed in five years, following two years of pre-pharmaceutical studies. Combining the two degrees provides a big competitive advantage for positions in major medical centers, drug discovery research and clinical trials.

The new PharmD and Master of Public Health (MPH) concurrent degree program is a partnership between the Schools of Pharmcy and Education, Health and Human Behavior that dovetails with the public health requirements included in the accreditation standards for the PharmD curricula. The MPH program provides students with an in-depth knowledge of how to plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate programs to improve the overall health and well-being of their communities. These skills, alongside the knowledge of pharmaceutical interventions, therapy and management they gain from the PharmD program, will lead students to provide greater support for public health needs as pharmacy professionals.

Read more about the new concurrent degree programs. 

James T. Minor, PhD, has been named SIUE's 10th chancellor. He succeeds Randy Pembrook, PhD, who has served as chancellor since August 2016. Pembrook announced his retirement in May 2021, effective in 2022. Minor assumed his duties on March 1.

“I am truly honored and excited about the opportunity to serve as the 10th Chancellor at SIUE,” shared Minor. “The institution has made tremendous strides but is also well-positioned to extend its reach and impact. I look forward to strengthening our existing community partnerships while also creating new connections with the business community and our alumni in the region and across the country.”

Minor most recently served as assistant vice chancellor and senior strategist in the Office of the Chancellor at California State University, which recently posted the highest graduation rates in its history. He has successfully advocated for hundreds of millions of dollars in support of graduation initiatives and served as principal investigator for $7.5 million in funded programs and research. Prior to his post at California State University, Minor served as deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education where he administered more than $7 billion in federal higher education programming.

Read more about Minor.

School of Pharmacy's Lakesha Butler, PharmD, lent her expertise to a national committee charged with incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism (DEIA) into the Oath of the Pharmacist. Butler, clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the School, was called upon by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) in April 2021. 

She was asked to represent the AACP in her role as council of sections chair-elect and due to her expertise in DEIA. Butler and 10 other representatives from the AACP and APhA were charged with proposing revisions incorporating DEIA while ensuring the oath remained broad in scope. 

“The joint committee led a critical charge of boldly expanding our professional oath to include the necessary elements of DEIA,” Butler said. “The revised oath charges all pharmacists to take an active responsibility in promoting health equity and commit to being change agents in the system of pharmacy practice and beyond.”

U.S. Navy veteran and School of Pharmacy student Daniella Mazzaro is grateful for the healthcare coverage she receives through the Veterans Administration (VA). It’s coverage she assumed all veterans received, until she learned during her clinical rotation that less than half of all U.S. veterans have VA healthcare.

Lack of healthcare coverage is something Mazzaro, a native of Venezuela, understands all too well. After immigrating to the U.S. as a teen, being a homeless college student, and serving in the U.S. Navy, she still could not afford health insurance as a college student. 

"I had the opportunity to apply to VA healthcare,” Mazzaro said. “I assumed that anyone who served would get it, but I’ve since learned that is not the case. It’s worrisome that there are veterans who are not receiving needed care.”  

Read more about Mazzaro's research on Illinois veterans' access to healthcare.

Chris Lynch, PharmD, professor and director of clinical programs in the School of Pharmacy, received the Bowl of Hygeia Award by the Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA). The award was presented at the IPhA and Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) joint annual conference banquet in St. Louis. 

Established in 1958, the Bowl of Hygeia Award is considered one of the profession’s most prestigious awards, recognizing pharmacists who possess outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities and encouraging pharmacists to take active roles in their communities. The award is presented annually by participating state pharmacy associations. 

“Dr. Lynch has given far and above back to his community not just in Illinois but globally, and his love of patients and community deserves to be honored,” said IPhA Executive Director Garth K. Reynolds, BSPharm, RPh, MBA.  

Read more about Lynch's recognition.

School of Pharmacy’s Jennifer Rosselli, PharmD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, was sworn in as president of the Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA) at the IPhA and Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) joint annual conference in St. Louis. 

Rosselli will focus on increasing and diversifying IPhA membership and supporting the immediate needs of the pharmacy profession, striving to engage pharmacists, technicians and student pharmacists across the state in IPhA’s efforts to advocate on behalf of the profession.

In addition to Rosselli’s appointment, Miranda Wilhelm, PharmD, clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, was sworn in for her third term as IPhA vice president. Garrett Clary, second-year student, was appointed to the IPhA board of directors as student representative, and Jimmy Havens, second-year student, was named as the MPA student liaison 

Read more about the IPhA/MPA leadership roles. 

Multiple School of Pharmacy faculty members and an outstanding student were honored by the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP) and named to the board of directors during its annual meeting.

Fourth-year pharmacy student Janki Vyas, and Chris Herndon, PharmD, professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, received ICHP Shining Star Awards. The award recognizes an increased level of participation and initiative as an ICHP champion, division or committee member.

Jennifer Arnoldi, PharmD, clinical associate professor, began her term as immediate-past president. Carrie Vogler, PharmD, clinical associate professor, finished her term as immediate-past president. Jared Sheley, PharmD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, was inducted as the Metro-East Society president.  

Read more about the ICHP recognition and leadership.

To train individuals in being able to identify, understand and respond to signs of addiction and mental illness, the School of Pharmacy incorporated Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) as a requirement into its curriculum and is expanding it to reach more students, alumni, faculty and participating pharmacists.

In 2019, the Department of Pharmacy Practice’s Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP, professor and director of well-being and resilience, and Misty Gonzalez, PharmD, BCPP, clinical associate professor, completed a five-day train-the-trainer MHFA course, allowing them to train two classes of students thus far. Through additional grant funding, two more faculty members recently completed the trainer course as well.

“We are excited to expand our MHFA skills-based training program beyond our student pharmacists to pharmacists working in our community,” shared Kelly Gable, PharmD. “We hope to encourage all pharmacists to consider taking MHFA and to actively play a role in reducing stigma and enhancing awareness surrounding mental health wellness and the critical importance of self-care.”

Read more and sign up for notifications of MHFA trainings.

Celebration Kudoboard for the Pembrooks

The Pembrooks are retiring at the end of the month from lifelong careers in higher education. Their leadership and involvement has left an indelible mark on countless individuals. Chancellor Pembrook led SIUE through many triumphs and challenges during his 5 ½ year tenure, holding true to the University’s mission of developing leaders who will “shape a changing world.” Mary Jo taught piano and played a key role in revitalizing the SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Performing Arts program.

Help us thank them for their dedicated service to SIUE by signing the Celebration Kudoboard by Monday, Feb. 21!

Save the Date: Alumni Trivia Night

Saturday, April 2, 6 p.m.
SIUE Student Fitness Center

Join us on campus for a night of movie-themed trivia while supporting scholarships for SIUE students. Click here to register.

Save the Date: One Day, One SIUE
Giving Day and Reception

Thursday, April 21

Share your support for SIUE during our inaugural 24-hour day of giving and join us for an evening celebration with music and food as we light campus red. Watch your email for more details!

Save the Date: Golden Graduation Reunion Weekend

May 5-7

Mark your calendars and plan to join us in celebrating alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago. More information to come via mail and email soon. Check out siue.edu/alumni/golden-graduates for more details.

Apply for the SIUE Alumni Board of Directors

Applications are being accepted for the SIUE Alumni Association Board of Directors now through February 18! If you have a sense of pride in the value of the education you received at SIUE, you are great board candidate! To learn more and apply, visit siue.edu/alumni/about/becoming-a-member.shtml.

Join Online Services and Education Outreach (OSEO) as we explore new opportunities both personally and professionally this spring! We are excited to launch new courses, as well as our new Spring 2022 catalog. Please visit our website at siue.edu/educational-outreach to peruse, stay updated and register for all of the Personal, Professional, Lifelong Learning, Educard and various other offerings available through OSEO!

SIUE Student-Athletes Extend Streak to 31 Semesters

SIUE Retains Strong Standing in Latest GSR Report

Tickets Available Now for Red & Black Benefit